Financial Stability Network(FSN) Academy

Use your professional expertise to help others meet their financial goals!

The Financial Stability Network of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington is partnering with various social services agencies to provide financial advice and guidance to low-income individuals and families. We are seeking CPAs, Certified Financial Planners and other financial professionals to volunteer with the Financial Stability Network (FSN). Your professional expertise will be invaluable in helping participants prepare a budget, reduce debt, establish credit and/or improve their credit scores, prepare tax returns and improve money management skills with a goal toward building assets. 

As a volunteer Mentor with the Financial Stability Network (FSN), your mission will be to accompany your assigned client/Mentee as they work to meet their financial goal(s). By sharing your professional expertise, showing genuine interest in the individual, proposing viable options to achieve their goals, and supporting them as they execute their decisions, you provide a service that affirms the Mentee's innate dignity and empowers them on their journey toward self-sufficiency. 

The Financial Stability Network (FSN) relies on professionals like you to provide pro-bono financial services to those who otherwise would not have access to financial guidance, education, and tax consulting. Together, we work to assist low-income families and individuals with increasing income and building sustainable assets.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Meeting one-on-one with clients/Mentees bi-weekly to assist them in reaching financial goals.
  • Preparing for meetings.  This may include creating an agenda, sending reminder emails, checking notes from last time, or researching answers to questions.
  • Performing occasional check-ins with Mentee between regular meetings.
  • Building a trusting fiduciary relationship with the Mentee based on their needs.

 

Qualifications:

  • Active CFP certification
  • Professional liability insurance  
  • Effective communication skills, especially listening skills
  • Empathetic and patient
  • Organized and reliable
  • Encouraging and supportive
  • Able to articulate basic financial skills, e.g.: knowledge of how to open bank accounts, create budgets, etc.

 

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics:

  • Experience with coaching/ mentoring skills
  • Experience with fiscal management/budgeting
  • Experience with people living on low-income (a plus but not required)
  • Spanish language proficiency (a plus but not required)

 

Volunteer Benefits:

  • Meet new people from all walks of life.
  • Improve communication and mentoring skills.
  • Opportunity to use background in personal finance and/or accounting
  • Great opportunity to network with other finance and accounting professionals in the D.C. Metro area.
  • Fulfill any pro bono service requirements.
  • Develop culturally responsive financial counseling techniques.

Support:

  • Volunteers will participate in Catholic Charities Volunteer Orientation.
  • Volunteers will participate in a training session on Mentoring and how to use FSN's. resources
  • Volunteers will be supported by the leadership team from the FSN.

 

Time Commitment:

  • Volunteers will meet with clients for twelve 1-hour coaching sessions
  • Volunteers must commit to a 1-year service term
  • About 1 hour/week of work, including research, check-ins, and coaching sessions

 

Location:

  • Coaching sessions will be held at a time and place mutually convenient for the coach and client. Meetings may be held in-person or virtually via platforms such as Zoom or Google Meetings. 

Contact: Joe Kenny, CFP | joseph.kenny@cc-dc.org | (202) 670-9806